The Press Association quoted Atwood as saying that "when you see the Queen at her age and her schedule that she puts out, it's an inspiration to everybody, you just keep going."

Atwood and British author Bernardine Evaristo split the Booker Prize ten days ago, after judges flouted the rule that there should be a single winner. She also won the prestigious fiction award in 2000, and has several U.S., Canadian and French awards.